Ex-FBI Director James Comey says he doesn’t expect to be charged over ‘86 47’ Instagram post: ‘Ridiculous’ 

Former FBI Director James Comey recently spoke out about the controversy surrounding an Instagram post he shared that some interpreted as a call to assassinate President Trump. In his first public remarks since the incident, Comey told MSNBC host Nicolle Wallace that he does not expect any further action to be taken against him by the Trump administration.

Comey defended the post, which featured seashells arranged on a beach to form the numerals “86 47,” stating that he still believes it looks “totally innocent.” He expressed disbelief that anyone would see it as a call for violence and described the reaction as “crazy.” The former FBI chief explained that he initially thought the shell formation was a political message related to the 47th president, and his wife encouraged him to photograph it.

Despite the backlash, Comey maintained that he does not regret the post but acknowledged the distraction and controversy it caused. He emphasized that even in hindsight, the post appeared harmless to him. Comey revealed that he took the photo down after learning that some perceived it as a call for assassination, as he did not want to be associated with violence in any way.

The incident led to Comey being contacted by the Secret Service and interviewed by investigators, although he described the interactions as professional. President Trump, who survived assassination attempts in the past, including one in 2024, viewed Comey’s post as a threat against him. Trump stated that the message was clear and that even a child would recognize it as a call for assassination.

Despite calls for his arrest by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, Comey dismissed the idea as “ridiculous.” He suggested that such accusations reflect poorly on the current administration’s leadership. Comey expressed that he does not anticipate facing further repercussions for the Instagram post and believes the controversy surrounding it is unfounded.

Overall, Comey stands by his belief that the post was innocent and maintains that he has no regrets about sharing it. The former FBI director shrugged off the criticism and controversy, indicating that he does not expect any negative consequences from the incident.